SANDRINGHAM Dragons kept their hopes of a rare Coates Talent League three-peat alive by advancing through Sunday’s Metro quarter finals. Oakleigh Chargers also won through to the preliminary finals in a tense win over Northern. We took note of some of the top prospects and performers from both games.

>> Scouting Notes: 2024 Coates Talent League Country Quarter Finals

Sandringham Dragons 17.14 (116) def. Calder Cannons 8.8 (56)

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:

#3 Levi Ashcroft
Midfielder | 179cm | 18/12/2006

Stats: 40 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals

Ashcroft was everywhere on Sunday, racking up a game-high 40 disposals with his combination of clean stoppage craft and endless outside running. He accumulated possessions at will, enjoying plenty of freedom having garnered close checking in Sandringham’s previous encounter with Calder. Ashcroft’s slew of uncontested possessions included plenty of handballs to feed runners in the expanses of ETU Stadium, which he roamed with high footy IQ and work rate. To top things off, Ashcroft booted two goals, one of which saw him smother a Calder kick before running into the open square. A dominant display on the big stage.

#12 Harry Armstrong
Key Forward | 195cm | 14/06/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals

As was the case last week, reward did not come easily for Armstrong in the early stages of the match, but he ended up with four goals. His attack on the ball and physicality could hardly be faulted, as he split contests and followed up with nimble work at ground level. Armstrong got going with two majors in the second quarter and was difficult to contain close to goal, also providing score assists like his handball to Ashcroft in term three. It wasn’t the key forward’s most polished performance, but he still showcased his best traits and had more scoring output than anyone afield.

#22 Murphy Reid
Midfielder | 180cm | 30/07/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 6 marks, 6 inside 50s, 3 goals

Along with Ashcroft, Reid ran riot through midfield and was largely allowed to do as he pleased. The classy ball user showcased his Hollywood handballs and sharked the pill with one touch, often chaining possessions and demanding it back from his teammates. His dynamic, albeit cruisey running led to plenty of fluent forward play, as Sandringham looked for Reid to be the player delivering into attack. He also hit the scoreboard with a second three-goal haul on the bounce, finishing sharply in open play and getting one to run over the back from about 65 metres out.

#36 Samuel Marshall
Midfielder | 185cm | 19/01/2006

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Marshall made a strong start to proceedings as the third member of Sandringham’s prolific starting midfield trio. The Queensland native had no trouble finding the footy and used it neatly by hand and foot, racking up short-range disposals and combining well with teammates. He didn’t quite offer the same hurt factor as Reid, but was efficient like Ashcroft and even bagged a goal late in the second quarter. Consistency has been his key all year, and he bounced back nicely this week.

CALDER CANNONS:

#3 Jayden Nguyen
Midfielder/Defender | 177cm | 27/07/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 20 handballs, 3 marks

Nguyen started in midfield and provided a nice spark throughout the first half. The Essendon NGA prospect did plenty of work by hand, using his sharp turn of speed to escape congestion and dish the ball off with composure, where he would have blazed away at times earlier in the year. Nguyen’s slick hands saw him only post eight kicks, which he opted to go for more once switched to defence. There, offered his usual daring style with some pacy forays up the ground.

#17 Nash King
Midfielder | 181cm | 05/01/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s

King was Calder’s main form of resistance in midfield and while not at his prolific best in the face of Sandringham’s dominant ball winners, he still showed moments of class. Above all else, his darting side-steps to shift angles, evade opponents, or find that extra bit of space were a key feature when he carried the ball. The stoppage specialist opted to go by hand more often than not, as is his style.

#27 Patrick Said
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 24/04/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Said has put in a consistent year without much fanfare, and while his numbers were slightly down he continued to hit the scoreboard with two majors. It was his fifth consecutive two-goal game, with the midfielder-forward hitting the scoreboard in his last 12 appearances for a tally of 23 goals in 14 games. He slotted a nice set shot in the opening quarter and one on the run in term three, showing flashes of class and a strong set of hands overhead. He and Cooper Herbert were a couple of bright spots inside 50 for the Cannons.

#56 Cooper Duff-Tytler
Ruck/Key Forward | 199cm | 22/08/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 9 hitouts, 1 goal

It was tough going for Duff-Tytler in the ruck battle, with the bottom-ager made to go against a pair of steely over-age Dragons. Still, he arguably beat them around the ground with his ability to spread from the contest. Duff-Tytler laid a terrific holding the ball tackle on Reid in the second quarter and while his skills wavered, was quite assured in possession. He also got reward for effort with a goal in the final quarter on the back of Oliver Watt’s special tap to find him in the goalsquare.

Northern Knights 10.8 (68) def. by Oakleigh Charger 9.16 (70)

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#1 Jesse Dattoli
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 07/08/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Up against a high class midfield unit, Dattoli found it a little tougher to rack up possessions this week and was shut down well up forward by Blake Leidler. Of his 21 disposals, 15 were handballs and his marking influence was quelled inside 50. Nonetheless, Dattoli provided some early spark with an over-the-shoulder handball, and his special awareness was clear to see in traffic. He was also hard at the ball and the Knights looked for him when going forward, but it was difficult to impart his creativity under the heat of the contest.

#18 Thomas Sims
Ruck/Key Forward | 199cm | 12/05/2006

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 10 hitouts

Sims’ day and season ended early after he went over on his ankle at the start of the third quarter, which saw him helped off the field. He had his moments in the first half though, showcasing strong craft as Northern’s primary ruck against a quality opponent in Louis Emmett. Sims’ marking around the ground was a key facet of his play, and he seemed to be covering ground nicely like last week – arguably on track for an even bigger game.

#19 Ty Kitchell
Midfielder | 188cm | 12/05/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal

Kitchell popped up in crucial moments and was integral in setting the tone for Northern’s late fightback. His 188cm frame was difficult to combat in the clinches, though Kitchell was nimble enough to navigate out of contests. When unable to exit cleanly, he inspired his side with tough inside work and strong clearing kicks. Kitchell also hit the scoreboard with a well executed goal to kickstart the Knights’ final-quarter surge.

#34 Jordyn Gillard
Midfielder | 179cm | 02/12/2006

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles

Another of the less heralded, but undeniably integral members of Northern’s engine room, Gillard led all comers for the Knights with 26 touches. His work rate between the arcs was terrific, helping surge the ball forward with bursts of speed and driving kicks. Gillard was able to find possessions both at and away from the contest thanks to his smarts and clean set of hands.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#5 Finn O’Sullivan
Midfielder | 182cm | 30/05/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 4 inside 50s

Coming back into the fold after missing Wildcard Round, O’Sullivan again showed glimpses of his top-end talent without necessarily excelling. He was utilised through midfield minus any major forward rotations, and didn’t cover the ground as freely as others with consistent run in their legs. Nonetheless, O’Sullivan barrelled himself at the contest and was strong, losing his feet at times but displaying great power. He got his aerial game going in the final quarter and combined well with Jagga Smith, with his usual skill execution slowly coming back to him.

#7 Jagga Smith
Midfielder | 181cm | 28/01/2006

Stats: 31 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

It was yet another high class performance from Smith, whose consistency is unparalleled in this draft crop. Oakleigh’s frontline midfielder and captain led all comers and was simply everywhere at times, proving impossible to tie down. He won ball at the stoppages and came away smoothly, while also showing great poise and evasiveness as opponents closed in on him around the ground. Smith’s knack of winning crucial clearances saw him step up in the final quarter, and one of his best moments was a ridiculously good snap goal in the second term.

#11 Louis Emmett
Ruck | 198cm | 23/03/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 15 hitouts, 1 goal

Emmett enjoyed an enthralling battle with Sims in the first half, but really began to impose himself once his main adversary went off injured in the third quarter. The bottom-ager showed great touch for a tall, able to grab the ball from the ruck and contribute to open play like a midfielder. He even hit up Tom Gross with a lovely kick inside 50. Emmett found the goals himself with a set shot in the first quarter and his dominance was key to Oakleigh building a strong lead heading into the final break.

#14 Tom Gross
Forward/Midfielder | 181cm | 15/09/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Gross was nothing short of outstanding in the first half and did his best work as a forward with two goals from five scoring shots. He started like a house on fire, proving inconsistent in front of the big sticks but being too powerful on the lead and difficult to contain inside 50. He even laid a barnstorming rundown tackle on Dattoli. Gross then had a hand in two crucial goals late in the second quarter – against the wind – and was dangerous when camped one-out inside 50. With some more polish, it could have been a massive game.